The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-21
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What0ur Veterans Have 70 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
IN TIE EAR SOUTH.
Tho Second Raid 90 Pontchatoula. Ia.-Au Infau
Try Dash ca Camp Moore.

N.lt NlAtltA no iAais' lf 't.''lh AsANl Aa''I
Nauehas connect ing Lakes Nagrppas and l'nnt-
thUtmin, Louisiana, up The Jackson l,alraad
10 Camp Moore and destroy the remaining tNh-
Dc prnnorIy. The railroad bridge "cro-s she
Pass had been hurayd at the occupation al Nrw
Orleans by the ruuh0at New London So tlal
we had 10 hc roWcd across Boo small tOGts, Which
took considerable time. We had H.ru CaWPea
on thc south side Of the Pass SINCE the last Of
April, after returning from our FIRST raid, pre-
vuusly narrated. All the dry land wo had was
less than a hundred yards OF baligsicd railroad
track, surrounded 10y wet cypress swamp filled
with m0ccasIus and alhgators. La order 70 sleep
with amy comfort we had 10 build hoors OF
cypress punchcons supported by posts, oua leycl
with the track, some three feet above the level
OF the water In the swamp. j Will mention
the fact THAI we were
ToRMENTED WITH MUsKETos
but human language cannot fully express what
we endured oar only recreation or cXeg-
else was catching crabs from the burned plng
OF the bridge, or fishing i'm open boats or bath
ing. Oar bathing grew less and less as we
became acquainted with the fcrocious ma
tnIe OF the various species of the gar fish They
have NO fear on hesitation in dariiug aud strik-
ing al anything. and j often wonder why
more human beings are not injured 10y them.
one OF them darted and strucl, at hsh We had
caught weighing some - or 20 pounds, jus, as
we were pulling ii out OF the water, cutting the
fish completely i'm two. We found 10y expert
ence that the alligator was "A docile animal
compared 10 the gar.
After all had crossed we took up our line Of
march toward POutchatoula, some 10 miles
ahead, just out of the great swamp We crossed
,0nCs's Island, about two miles, 60 North Pass,
the bridge OF which was still standing, and con-
tinucd on just beyond Owl Bayou, where a halt
was ordered for consultation and recounois-
sance detail was made from Co III, 9th
Mich, 10 move forward rs scouts and find the
rebel pcllets and the disposition uftheir battery.
Id was impossible to leave the trcstlcwOrI
upon which the track was laid FOR the swamp
was almost impossible, and we knew rs we re-
treated two weeks before that the enemy had
planted battery across the road AT the edge Of
the swamp. We had skirmished our way back
ward in the face of a superior force, but cX-
pected now to find large portion of them re-
called 10 Port Hudson. Our only dread was
the last mile of the swamp, which was an open
marsh and covered with water; the remainder
being all cypress, end, as last resort, could be
wADED AND FLoUNDERED THROUGH.
The open marsh would not permit us 10 leave
the track, except about POO yards near the dry
land, which had been ballastcd so that a file Of
men could walk outside the end Of the cross
ties.
Our scouts did not return until 10 or il
o'clock al night, and reported the enomy's
IlNkAi anu BhAibiA VI AllN tisN "a Tue ia
usual force. Accordingly Cos. i ard II OF the
9th Mich. were ordered ahead 10 take the bat
terry by surprise ii possible; If not, 1t any risk.
The night was clear, but no moon, aud we
made quick time until we reached the open
marsh, where all noise was fOrbddcn-not even
q whisper allowed. Every care was taken to
avoid stumbling or striking the ties. The I'M
Outstanding was that as soon as we reached the
balasted portion, Co L was 10 take the left and
Co. III the right of the track, aud at the first
shot rush forward and take the guns There
was a curve 10 the track just before reaching
the open marsh, which prevented the enemy
from seeing any movement beyond this bend.
j suppose all hearts beat loudly against
the ribs; ] know mine did for every moment
VIC expected to see the fash Of artillery in front
of Us and hear the crash OF shell or grapeshOt.
We could plainly sec their campfire, aud by its
fitful light the outline of the hastily built pro-
lection for the gunners, Of earth and poles. We
could also sec the dark outline OF the muzzle OF
the leld-piece NJ the breeze at times famed the
dying flames into brightness.
The stars seemed brighter than ever, and
their reflection from the water on either side
appeared as real as though there were two
ornaments and the trcstlework upon which
we were walking a skeleton connection be.
tween the two. Nearer and nearer we slowly
approached, cautiously stepping TO avoid noise
VIC concluded the enemy were resevng theil
DlE hllNiA VIC WIZ AT NlDsE NhdIAtlHt duu lutu
SWEEP Us OUT OF EXISTENCE
ri one discharge. As soon as we reached til,
ballasted portion, ii filed into single line OF
the right and i on the left. Still we could
perceive no movement amongst the enemy
Our anxiety had grown 10 be oppressive. w,
were now within short distance of death o.
victory, aud nothing but the burning camp
fire gave sign of life. With whispered com
mand of Forward, boys" we made a stimuli
taueous rush and soon ieaped over and pushed
around the instructions through the thicl
bushes determined TO capture the whole post
What a relief! Not soul remained for us Il
capture. The coffee WAS still hot by the fire
and pack Of greasy cards on the ground b!
stool, where the poker players had momen
before left them, was all We captured. Ever
the dreaded cannon proved TO be a Quaker"
Mepushed out our picket toward Pontcha
tOula 10 the edge Of a small clearing, with TIA
Confederate picket on the opposite side Of tn
tNo-acre field. The Town was Oulya mile ant
the remainder of US lay down 10 wait for day
light. In the course OF an hour the two regi
menls came up and bvOuacked until day. A
sosn as we could sec, four companies of skin
mishCrs, two on each side OF the railroad, wer
pushed forward 10 feel the enemy We foun
them immediately, but they gave way am
wc increased our advance into a forward move
ment. As came 10 the outskirts Of the tow
the resistance was pretty hot, several ben
wounded, but we easily
oyERcAME 1T AND TOOK POSSESSION.
After a short rest we again started forwar
into the fiat pine woods where the enem
gradually disappeared. As we continued on
the skiFmisheTs on the extreme left reporte
the approach OF a body OF cavalry, and the n
serve was concentrated 10 that point, but aftC
a few shots were exchanged mutual recogni
tion took place and the firing ceased. The
proved TO be the LIST Texas Rangers, under Co
Davis, a company OF metropolitan, aud also
company of Reeds cavalry.
Mecontlnued toward the left, where we foun
sort of pine-pole barracks, used as a permf
nent camp by the Conlederates, aud sma
quantity OF forage. Everything was destroye
aud we returned 10 Pontchatoula. preparator
10 starting up the railroad. On the 18th all {
the cavalry and large portion Of the inlantr
started for Camp Moore, at TangipahoR Station
30 miles above. Al Hammond. four mil,
above Pontchatoula, she large Gate Shoe Fa
tory" was destroyed, as IL was furnishing III
COniederacy with substantial footing Min
or ten miles above the shoe factory" was n
Southern Carw0rks," which were also q,
gtroyed, as they were the prolific source OF rOl
inE-stOck ion the Southwestern railroads as we
as lumber supply for Confederate Goycmmel
purposes About a mile below Amite, whe
Gulletts cotton gin factory now stands, ma
was ordered Tor the night and the track torn I
for some distance, a large fire built and raj
heated and
BENT so OUT or SHAPE
that they could not be used again. The woi